Editorial

By Sherly Isaac

Many a times we tell our problems to others and soon we find ourselves in a new problem. People will ask are you going through this and that.. and we wonder how they know our problems? You just shared your heart with one person and it spread like wild fire yet no solution for your problems. How many times we feel sorry after sharing our problems with others. Oh, in this world whom can we trust and share our problems and tears with? Is there anybody whom we can trust? Answer may be no in case of trusting human being but there is a God whom you can trust and share your problems with. And the biggest advantage is, He will not spread your problems but solve it.

Hannah a destitute woman who had no one to share her problems. When her rival Peninnah provoked her, it made her very miserable and very sad. Year after year she went to the house of God and wept. Why? The only reason was that her life was filled with bitterness. She was shedding bitter tears. Her wonderful husband could not help her. But Hannah went before God and poured out her heart before Him. She shed bitter tears at the feet of God. She did not care about anybody around because her heart was so aching she totally forgot her surroundings. Even she looked like a madwoman or drunkard in the sight of Eli. Eli's comments could not stop her to shed her tears at the feet of God and to continue praying before the LORD.

And the Bible tells us that, she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

My dear friend, are you going through such agony and pain in your life today? Shed your tears at the feet of Jesus. The same God who wiped away the tears of Hannah will wipe away your tears. Bible says in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob." Yes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is ready to fill your life with His divine peace and joy and have power to wipe away your tears.

Visions and Dreams

By Sheela Isaac

Last time we meditated upon dreams. Many think that it is not Biblical but dreams and visions are very much scriptural. Person sees dreams and visions in advanced stages of his/her spiritual journey. You cannot have these experiences when you are just a nominal Christian or just a new believer in Jesus Christ. I was impressed very much by the example, which was given by Dr. Benjamin George during Detroit CSI Regional Conference. He said, “When first touch of the Holy Spirit comes upon a person’s life he/she becomes born again or saved. When second touch or anointing comes then a person becomes spirit filled Christian. After this when greater anointing comes miracles and wonders show up.”

Let me clarify once more “the first touch (conviction) of the Holy Spirit upon somebody’s life makes him/her a child of God. That’s called Salvation. It is the most important event of anybody’s life. Without this experience you cannot call yourself a Christian. First touch of the Holy Spirit is very necessary in your life if you decide to have a place in heaven. If you are not sure about it, it means you need this experience to save youself from hell fire. You may be in a Christian family, may be CSI, Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal or may be in any Church it does not matter. But if you want to reach heaven this first touch is very much necessary.

Now after salvation you are entitled to receive the second touch of the Holy Spirit. It is called anointing of the Holy Spirit. Once when you are anointed you can have other experiences like seeing dreams, visions, healing and miracle working powers etc. All these above said experiences come by more anointing and faithfulness toward God. Any body can have these experiences, because God is not a partial God. Bible clearly says that “ask and it shall be given to you.” Yes my friend this is the simple key to receive any gifts from God. More you ask more you receive, more you long for it more you get.

Now let’s move forward and look what are ‘Dreams and Visions’. Dreams/visions are very much biblical. If you read Bible you will find many have seen dreams and visions and in due course those dreams and visions came to fulfillment.

Bible speaks about Joseph, who was a great dreamer. Gen 37:5 and onwards, “Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.”

Bible says Joseph saw a dream and later Joseph’s dreams were fulfilled. It took long years may be 20 or so but God has given those dreams and that is why God fulfilled it. What was Joseph’s dream? Gen 37:7, "There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." Gen 37:8, “And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Now look how this dream is going to fulfill.Gen 42:6, “Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.”

Joseph’s brothers asked him “shall you indeed reign over us?” Finally they had to bow down in front of Joseph the very same way the dream was shown to Joseph. What a great God. He knows everything even before it comes to pass. He knows everything about you. You cannot hide form Him. He is all-knowing God. Can you live in sin and still be hid from Him? NO!!! He knows the very intent of every heart.

If you want to read more about dreams of this modern time and how it fulfills, please refer previous two recent issues for detailed info.

Now let us see how Visions work:Does Bible speak about visions? Yes. When you read Bible you find many had experience of seeing visions in Old Testament and in New Testament days.

Bible speaks about the visions of Daniel, Abraham, John the revelator, Paul and many others. Look at the life of Apostle Paul. He was an orthodox Jew. He used to persecute the believers of Jesus Christ. Acts 8:3, “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”

One day on the way to Damascus when he was ready to put people in jail and kill he meets Jesus. He sees a vision. Please note he was not a believer but God shows him a vision because God had a great purpose for Saul’s life. Acts 9:3, “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.”Acts 9:4, “Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"Acts 9:5, “And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

Here we find Jesus is speaking to Saul through vision. This vision transformed Saul who later became Paul. He became a believer of Jesus Christ and later became a great preacher of Gospel. Later we find Paul sees many visions including the vision of Macedonia and third heaven. God spoke to him through many visions that’s why he could stand boldly for Christ and Gospel sake and proclaimed the Gospel to many. He was faithful till the end for Christ. Why? Because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit he could run the race successfully.

When you read the last book of the Bible Revelation you can see the visions seen by John the revelator. The book of revelation is full of visions it describes many experiences of John. God shows him the things of the future through vision. God shows him the New Jerusalem and the reign of Anti Christ.

Why God speaks through visions? When He wants to show something He speaks through visions. When He wants to convey some special message He speaks through visions and dreams. When He has to accomplish certain mission or task. He gives certain instruction through dreams and visions. We find in Old Testament that God appears before Moses in a burning bush. Why God should appear in a vision to Moses? Why God should talk to Moses through burning bush. God had a certain mission to accomplish and God knew that only person who is able to fulfill it is Moses. God sent Moses to rescue the children of Israel from the land of Egypt. God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel from the land of misery and pain.

Question is can we have such experience in this modern time? Can we see visions and dreams? Answer is YES. Bible did not change. God does not change; He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

I want to share one of the visions of my brother Vinod. One of his friends lost his suitcase with lot of cash. Actually he gave that suitcase to an employee of his office to do some office work in some other city. Few days later he got information that someone stole the suitcase during journey. He told my brother about it. Vinod prayed over it and he saw two visions. Vision was something like this: 1. A narrow untared path way has stonewalls by the side.2. Inside a room some type of wooden rack is kept. It looked like bookshelf or something like that, and near by this shelf there was a suitcase.

He did not get what the vision meant. So he prayed and God said don’t worry about it, just tell this vision as it is. So he told that vision to his friend.

His friend started thinking about it, but there was no clue what it could be and where this place could be located. He searched some places but could not find any clue. After 1-2 days later he was just shopping near by his house and he saw the employee’s brother who was in laundry shop. He thought, ‘they do not have that much money to lauder clothes, how come he is in this shop.’ After some times he went his home and was wondered to see the stone walls and narrow winding road. When he reached his house the more surprising thing was waiting for him. He found the wooden rack in his house and found suitcase near by it. He knew that the suitcase was not stolen but the employee lied to him and took all the money.

That’ how visions work, vision looks similar to the dream. But visions appear when you are fully awake during prayer time or just when you are sitting.

God speaks though visions even today also. Many times people see fire, angels, waterfall and dove. These are very common visions people see during prayer time in day today life. Some times Jesus appears before people.

Couple of months back I had to give a message in Church. It was first time when I had to preach in English before an audience so I was little bit nervous. I prayed lot for the help of God. God promised many things including the thick presence of the Holy Spirit. The day came when I had to preach, so in the morning when I was praying before leaving for Church I saw a vision. I saw that two doves are descending from heaven one after another. It was a very encouraging thought that the presence of the Holy Spirit is with me. Finally when I stood for preaching when I prayed first line of prayer again I saw again the same dove was descending from heaven. Then immediately I knew that God’s presence and Holy Spirit came and filled the Church. It is a real joy when you preach and you realize the presence of Jesus and Holy Spirit. If presence of Jesus is not there at the place of your preaching then your preaching is in vain. It does not bring results.

Do you want to see visions and dreams? Do you want to see visions and dreams like Bible prophets and Apostles saw? If yes, ask for it and you will receive. Get filled with the Holy Spirit. When Holy Spirit, which is God Himself, will come inside of you, He will bring many gifts with Him.

A trusted friend

By Sherly Isaac

John 15:14-15, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."

Jesus called his disciples His friends. When we think about the word "friend" a picture comes in our mind that a person whom we love and share both of our joyous and bad moments. A true and genuine friend will love you all the days of your life.

Let us look from the Bible that what type of friend and whose friend is Jesus.

Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners:Bible says in Luke 7:34 "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!"

Yes, you read it correct. Jesus loved the worst sinners of the world. When He saw sinners like prostitutes, tax collectors or murderers, He moved with compassion and forgave their sins. He became good friends with them. Are you thinking that you lived a bad life and committed grievous sins? Are you thinking that your life is totally ruined because of your sins and no one wants to be your friend? Jesus wants to become your friend. Will you accept Him as your friend? No matter what you did in past, He will forgive and forget all your sins and bless your life.

Abraham was called friend of God. Enoch walked with God 300 years. These men were just like you and me but could gain these type of fellowship with God. You can have it in your life too.

He is the trusted friend:Bible tells us the trustfulness of God. Psalmists says in Psalms 41:9-10, "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them."

Few years back we used to go to a particular home and we became very friendly with them. They used to come over our house and have lunch or dinner with us or we go in their home and have lunch or dinner with them. One day afternoon we went into their home and had lunch with them. After coming from there, my brother started throwing. Whatever he ate, he could not digest it. Almost whole night he vomited several times. And this routine continued next many days and weeks. Doctors could not understand that what was wrong with him. He started losing his weight and became very thin. Day after day he continued in tremendous pain.

One day I was watching him, sitting beside him, in agony and pain and I thought and prayed, "Lord, if something happens to him then who will take care of us?" And I said, "Lord, If you want to take him, please take me instead of him and give my life to him, let him live." Well, I did not notice any change in his health but a great peace came into my heart. One day suddenly Bro. Paul Dhinakaran (a mighty man of God in India) called. He said, "God put a great burden in my heart to telephone you." My brother shared his problem with him. And when Bro. Paul prayed for him it broke the power of darkness and healed him. Within few weeks he regained his weight.

It is possible that your friends in whom you trusted with all your hearts may cheat you. It is possible that in whom you put all your trust may try to kill you. But there is a God who loves you and wants you to put your trust in Him. He will never let you down. Yes, He is the trusted friend in whom you can trust completely and whole-heartedly. You can share your burdens, pain and sorrows with Him. He will cry with your pain and He will laugh with your joy. If you have not yet invited Him in your life, ask Him to come and live with you as your friend.

Standing in the Gap - Fasting prayer on 8th Dec.. 2015

As the Bible says in Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it." And also the Bible says in Numbers 16:48, "And he (Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." We have fasting prayer every second Tuesday of each month. Our next fasting prayer meeting will be conducted on 16th Nov. 2015

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Through the Valley of Death

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